I was 36 weeks pregnant when I went in for my regular doctor's visit. It was Wednesday May 27th. I had been feeling miserable and was swelled up pretty bad, but that's part of pregnancy right? And with this being my first pregnancy, I didn't know any different.
My husband and I got into the exam room, and the nurse checked my urine, and my blood pressure. She then informed me that by blood pressure was way too high and I had protein in my urine so I needed to lay on my side till the doctor came in.
My Doctor came in and rechecked my blood pressure. She then said I have severe preeclampsia and was going to be sent to the hospital to have my baby. All I heard... Read More

At 28 weeks I had an episode during my first pregnancy. I felt like I was completely out of it and not all together there. I remember going to my dad's house since my husband was still at work. We ended up calling 911. They suggested that I call my doctor's office first to see what they recommend and call back if needed. By the time the doctor on call had called me back I was feeling back to normal. It was such an odd feeling like I couldn't say the words I wanted to say fast enough. I was almost in slow motion struggling to talk. Then a week later I was getting up for work like normal. Thinking about things I needed to do that day. Next thing I know I am being slapped in the face by a... Read More

I had previously had two extremely healthy babies. Two healthy pregnancies with the exception of a bit of preterm labor during my first that had been stopped with medication. I was a little older during my third pregnancy, 31, and because we were using preventative measures to conceive, we found out far along about our little bundle on the way. I also wasn't the pillar of a healthy mommy-to-be because of this.
About six months in, I had a very high BP reading at a check-up. I convinced my doctor that it was because I was streseed, anxious, suffering from panic disorder. I wasn't suffering from headaches or any of the other symptoms associated with PE, so I went on my... Read More

At the age of 34 I found out I was pregnant. From the minute I saw the positive test I know it was not a normal pregnancy. I found put I was pregnant 6 days before I mossed my period and I was extremely sick and exhausted. In the back of my head I kept thinking there was more than 1 baby. That was confirmed when I had my 1st ultrasound on friday the 13th at 5 weeks 6 days. I remember the ultrasound told me I was wasting her tims because I was so early but she ate her words as soon as she placed the probe on my abdomen. I was carrying identical twins. My pregnancy was brutal. I had morning sickness the entire time and at 33 weeks I was admitted to the hospital for PIH. I spent the week... Read More

My first pregnancy I had gestational diabetes. My second pregnancy I had pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. It was the scariest time of my life. I didn't know I had it until I was admitted to hospital and transferred to a hospital with a level III NICU. My baby was born six weeks early and we had to leave her in the NICU when I was discharged. My pressure didn't go down after delivery and I was in and out of the hospital for several weeks. Finally I was put on some blood pressure meds that worked. I've been on medication for eight years and probably will be for the rest of my life. I still have strong emotions when I see pre-eclampsia on tv shows or when I see... Read More

As we get close to Mother's Day, it's sad to say that as I should be celebrating that I am still a mother to an Angel in Heaven. I can't say I can celebrate that day without having my daughter with me. On Feb 16, 2016, I had my doctors appointment. My blood pressure was high at 164/96, after checking it three times the doctor stated I had to be admitted for 24 hours for a protein urine test. I had no idea of what preeclampsia could be or lead to. As the 24 hours passed by, they had given me the steroid injections for my baby's lungs. On February 18, 2016, the doctor stated I had to have an emergency c-section as my protein in my urine was at 11,000 and the only way to get rid of my... Read More

Neither of my pregnancies have been easy. I wasn't one of those woman that enjoyed being pregnant. I actually never could understand how anyone could possibly say they liked it. Both times I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Both times I was constantly achy and tired. I was nauseated all throughout my second pregnancy and with Ethan I had a lot of swelling. We had a huge scare when we went in for our 20 week ultrasound with Audrey. After hearing the wonderful news that I was carrying a baby girl, we were told that there were signs of Down syndrome on my ultrasound. We spent the next month having more ultrasounds and more blood work done, to finally be told that our... Read More

Sunday, August 9th, my husband Kirk and I went for a walk on the bike path. It was a warm summer day, but as the sun was setting the cooler air felt like a relief. I was 36 weeks pregnant. As soon as we hit the meadow I started seeing gold stars. Little fireflies dancing in the sky, except I knew I wasn't seeing fireflies. This was a dreaded symptom of preeclampsia my doctor warned me about. On Saturday the 8th I had a scheduled stress test because my blood pressure was creeping up. I starting doing these tests twice a week when I was 35 weeks pregnant. Two straps hugged my 9-month pregnant belly and the sound of a speeding heartbeat eased my mine. Josephine was doing... Read More

I was 28 weeks pregnanat and started feeling very yucky. I had a good bit of swelling my whole second trimester but my hands and face began to swell drastically. I started taking my blood pressure at home. It was getting higher and higher. Finally one day after work I checked it and it was 150/98. I called my doctor and they wanted me to come in.
They kept me over night for observations and I did the 24 hour urine test. When it came back my proteins were very high. They were able to control my blood pressure with me laying on my left side and they diagnosed me with Pre-Eclampsia and sent me home on strict bed rest. Two days... Read More

When I found out I was pregnant, it was the happiest moment in my life. It's crazy how you can never think about starting a family and then that pregnancy test pops up positive and then thats the only thing you can imagine for your future. I was due on August 1, 2016. We found out I was having a baby girl. I feel like that's every mother's dream come true, a little princess to call my own. I started going to my OB at 8 weeks. Every appointment was wonderful, my sweet Olivia was growing big and strong and I was healthy. I hit 23 weeks and I started to experience "heartburn" or so I thought. In fact the second day I had it, it got so severe I was rushed to the ER. That night is still such... Read More

In October of 2015, I became a wife. Something I had wanted for so long. Our wedding day was perfect, despite the coldest day of the season thus far falling on that day. It was the perfect day. The best day of my life. That was until the next month, the day before Thanksgiving when I learned that I would be extending my portfolio to mother. I was so shocked because I didn't think it would happen so soon for us. But it was the best thing ever. I just remember crying after finding out, because I was so excited. For so many years, the one thing that I was so excited for was becoming a mother. It's the one thing that I always felt would complete my life. That... Read More

January of 2014, we found out that we were expecting a baby and that was going to be due on September 6, 2014. In April we found out it was a girl! We were so excited and ready for the challenge of bringing a baby into this world. Everything was going great until the afternoon of May 29th, when I went to the doctor for a regular checkup and glucose test. After the nurse took my blood pressure and the doctor came in, I was told that I would need to go to the hospital to be monitored for a few hours because my... Read More

I was expecting my first baby, a girl. I was very excited, I went to my doctors apt. and they said your blood pressure is a little high. It normally was good I was kinda concerned. Well they put me on a 24 hour urine test and after that I thought nothing of it. My numbers came back just a little elevated so I was ok with that.
I went home and 2 weeks later my mom came over to my house and she seen how puffy I was and told me I need to call my doctor. So the next day I did and they wanted me to come in. So I arrived on time and the nurse called my name and said Hunny you need to get into the office at once. Took my blood pressure it was... Read More

I was nesting. I was cleaning every square inch of where we were going to live. I was 30 weeks along. I thought to myself I’d pack a bag for the hospital. Then “No, that is crazy. I still have so much time.” Little did I know that I did not….A few days after as I walked to the bathroom I felt something and then there was blood. I screamed for my mom, although, it felt like I didn’t scream at all—it felt like my voice didn’t sound like anything. We called the hospital. I walked straight out the door and into the car I did not want to wait for a call back from the doctor.
We arrived in the emergency room - they immediately... Read More

My second son was born a few days before Christmas. The delivery itself went smoothly and our son was healthy. We were home in time for Christmas Eve. That night I tried to go to sleep, but every time I would lie down I had a pounding headache. When I stood up again, it would subside. I figured it was just from the stress of being in a hospital and because our newborn was waking up every few hours.
... Read More

It has taken a lot for me to get to the point where I can share my story. I have wanted to share the story for a long time but reliving every detail was just more than I could handle. I am now ready. If I can help just one person by sharing and spreading awareness of pregnancy / labor complications, then this journey was more than worth it. Please read our story below.. Our Story: Up until 28 weeks I had a normal pregnancy with no issues. On March 12th my right leg swelled up to about 3 times its normal size. I looked as though I had one elephant leg and one giraffe leg. I called my doctor thinking it was just normal “pregnancy swelling”, and to my surprise I was told to go straight... Read More

Sutton resident Wendy Kendrick has been running for 25 years, and she had no plans of stopping after narrowly missing the explosion at the 2013 Boston Marathon.
Wendy, a Project Manager at Framingham-based LFB USA, a sister company of rEVO Biologics, ran her best time that year (3 hours, 28 minutes), crossing the finish line shortly before the bombings occurred and close enough to hear the explosion. With her family on the sidelines, the danger hit very close to home.
But she ran again in 2014 and 2015, with her 2015 performance earning her a qualification in this year’s marathon.
... Read More

Scott and I were in our first prenatal class and they gave us the tour of the Labor & Delivery Ward half way through class. As we walked pass the NICU, Scott leaned over and asked me what that was, as he didn’t hear the instructor. I replied “Oh that’s the NICU for premature babies…you don’t need to worry about that.” And it was like a jolt that rocked my world after that, apparently we were going to know what the NICU was, and know it very well.
I was 32 weeks and started to not feel well. I even began throwing up. Thinking it was from something I ate, maybe food poisoning, I called my doctor to check in. The nurse said that as long as I stay hydrated and... Read More

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Normal web site usageThe Preeclampsia Foundation has a firm commitment to Internet privacy. You can visit most portions of preeclampsia.org without telling us who you are and without revealing any personal information. The only information we collect from a normal web site visit is the name of your Internet Service Provider, the browser and type of machine you are using, the web site that referred you to us, the pages you request and the date and time you request them. We use this information to generate statistics and measure site activity to improve the usefulness of the site to our visitors.

Collection of personally identifiable informationThe Preeclampsia Foundation may collect names, email addresses and other personally identifiable data about visitors when such data is voluntarily submitted to preeclampsia.org. For example, our site uses forms for visitors to register or make a donation online. Contact information from these forms is used to send information about preeclampsia or Foundation activity to our visitors. Financial information is used to bill or provide receipts to visitors in connection with their donations. To ensure the security of credit card and personal information, this Web site employs industry-standard security methods, including the Secure Socket Layers (SSL) protocol for the encryption of transmitted data. The Preeclampsia Foundation goes to great lengths to protect the confidentiality and integrity of any personal information you share with us over the Internet. In instances where we may partner with medical organizations to conduct research on preeclampsia, your participation may be expressly requested, but your permission would be required prior to sharing personally identifiable data with authorized medical organizations.

The Preeclampsia Foundation makes every effort to ensure the secure collection and transmission of sensitive user information using industry accepted data collection and encryption methodologies.

Donor Privacy PolicyThe Preeclampsia Foundation does not sell or otherwise disclose user information outside the organization. We will not sell, trade or share a donor's personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations.

Should you wish to review or make corrections to your personal information, please click Login/Join at the top of the page and enter your login information. A page titled "Edit Your Details" will appear in the main body of the page where you can view and make corrections. If you wish to be removed entirely from our database, please email info@preeclampsia.org.

CookiesWe do not use cookies on the majority of our website pages. The donate pages do use "per session" cookies. Per session cookies last only for the life of your current browser load and use no permanent storage on your hard drive. The use of per session cookies is very common in modern Web sites.